Hunter carrying a rifle through the woods

Smith & Wesson Just Bought Savage Arms. Here Is the $160 Million Version of the Story

If you blinked on Wednesday, you missed a big one. Smith & Wesson just bought Savage Arms for $160 million. That is a lot of money, a lot of history, and, if we are being honest, a lot of Massachusetts. Grab a coffee. We will keep this quick and stick to the facts.

The deal in 30 seconds

  • Who bought: Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: SWBI)
  • Who sold: JDH Holdings, which owned Savage Arms, Inc.
  • Price: $160 million, paid in a mix of stock and cash
  • Announced: October 21, 2026, and the release describes the deal as already completed

Meet the neighbors

Savage Arms is based in Westfield, Massachusetts, and has been around since 1894. Smith & Wesson goes back to 1852, also in Massachusetts. Put those two together and you get over 300 years of combined gun-making history (that is 132 plus 174 years, for the math nerds in the back). According to the announcement, Savage brings in about $160 million in annual net sales and has roughly 500 employees. Yes, the sales number matches the price tag. We checked twice.

Why the hunting crowd is paying attention

S&W CEO Mark Smith called the deal "transformative" and said it expands the company's presence in the hunting category, especially bolt-action rifles. The companies also say the two share many dealers, distributors, and big-box retail partners, which they say should help them get products to customers more efficiently. And they claim the combined business will be the largest commercial firearms manufacturer in the U.S.

Fair warning: all of that is how the companies describe their own deal. It is a press release, so expect the confidence level of a guy who just bought a boat.

Your turn

Do you own a Savage, a Smith & Wesson, or both? What is the first gun you ever shot, and who handed it to you? Tell us below. We read every answer, and the best stories might make it into a future post.

This is news only. It is not financial advice, and we are not predicting what happens next.

Source: Smith & Wesson Announces Acquisition of Savage Arms (Oct 21, 2026)

Back to blog